"truepurple" wrote in message
...
Well clearly some of you know something about VCR's. Arfa,
David,
anyone else, would you guys please help me fix this VCR, or
at least
figure out what is wrong with it?

Regarding emails and usernet groups. I always check my
emails via my
browser. It would be a pain to have to download and install
some email
software. Then sign up to a new email account, and have to
delete all
those emails that don't relate to what I am asking about,
just to ask
a question here. If I were to be a part of the usernet
group through
a email like gmail or hotmail or what not, but directly
through the
email part of it in a online fashion, would I have to worry
about that
being screened out by many people?

On Jun 9, 11:11 pm, truepurple
wrote:
I got this vcr some years ago, it was one of the most
expensive in the
store. I am a bit of a environmentalist too, so I would
much rather
fix then replace. Add to that the fact that even finding a
VCR that
records is in itself difficult now adays...

Anyway here is the problem.

If I have been recording for awhile(hour or so?), the VCR
starts
recording a strange kind of noise onto the tape. The
picture shifts or
jitters at spots like tiny hooks are pulling at the image
misaligning
it in spots horizontally. This happens only for a moment
but at
regular intervals every 4 seconds or so?(not sure of exact
time) the
sound is slightly distorted too at the exact same spot as
the picture.
As playback goes on, this effect gets stronger. It is not
the tape.

When it is recording, at the point where it starts
recording the noise
onto the tape, I can hear a kind of squeaking rubbing
sound that is
difficult to explain at regular intervals equal to the
noise/
distortion on the tape which just like the recording
itself gets
louder as it continues recording.

If I dont use the vcr for some time this effect goes away.
But more
then say a hour or two of nonuse is required before I can
get a half
hour/hour of record time relatively noise free.

Talking to repair shops, I get the old "Probably not worth
the money
to repair, but if you come in, we will do what ever, then
charge you
(lots of money)" chestnut. General opinion points to it
possibly being
the motor, and that buying a new motor would be
prohibitively
expensive.(for the value of the item in question)

http://www.repairfaq.orgstates that when a motor dies, it
usually
dies spectacularly. Does this apply to VCR motors too?

If it is the motor, Does the motor have to be exactly for
that model?
Or could a similar motor be made to work? Could I just
open it up,
find the motor,(not entirely sure what to look for) and
clobber it
with a bit of bike chain lub?

Another issue is that the VCR does not accept tapes feed
into it well
all the time. The solution usually to push it in lightly
for a short
bit of the distance.Otherwise the tape gets stuck at a
spot three
quarters back or so, as it struggles to pull it in for a
time till it
gives up and spits it back out. Sometimes it doesn't spit
it back out
all the way though, leaving me to actually have to tilt
the vcr
foreward to get the tap to come out via gravity (otherwise
I can't
push it in or eject it) The pushing it in a bit method
works fine for
now (if I remember) but I worry that it might get worse
eventually.

Is the motor that is responsible for drawing in the tape
different
then the one responsible for playing and recording on
tapes?

I am not familiar with this unit, but I have seen VCRs with
everything from two to five motors. The low end uses one for
the head drum and the other for everything else including
the loading mechanism. The five motor setup has one each for
head drum, capstan, loading, supply reel, and take-up reel.
Most common is three motors: head drum, capstan/reel drive,
and load/unload. Could you say which arrangement you have?

David